A thrill-seeking team from Bristol-based specialist healthcare provider National Friendly overcame their fears last weekend and took part in a challenging 175ft abseil in support of local charity Above and Beyond.
Seven of National Friendly’s employees abseiled down the second tallest building in Bristol, the Premier Inn tower. The brave team raised in excess of £1000 for the Above & Beyond CaRE Appeal (Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Environment) and this amount will be matched by National Friendly. The event formed part of National Friendly’s increased initiative to demonstrate its support of companies in the South West that help their local communities.
Above & Beyond raises money for cancer patients in Bristol, funding projects that touch the lives of thousands of people. With 1 in 3 diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime, the disease affects many families in some way. The Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre (BHOC) opened in 1971 and cares for over 6,500 individuals diagnosed with cancer every year, with up to 1,000 visitors passing through the Centre each day. Above & Beyond’s CaRE Appeal has pledged £1.6 million to transform the patient and visitor experience at the BHOC. Having already raised £1.1 million, the appeal is facing a race against time to raise the remaining £500,000 before autumn 2010. All involved hope that events such as the abseil will help the charity reach their target figure.
Chris Meier, head of marketing at National Friendly and one of the daring abseilers, said: “National Friendly and our ‘Allstars abseil team’ was delighted to support the CaRE Appeal, even though it did mean facing up to our fear of heights! We all had a great time and look forward to seeing the money raised go towards transforming the Bristol Haematology and Oncology centre.
“The centre will be a fantastic addition to Bristol’s medical portfolio and we wish the Above and Beyond charity all the best with their campaign to secure the remaining funds – National Friendly hopes to assist them in any way that we can.”